Exterior staining complements brick, stone and concrete colors and textures, and performs well in all outdoor applications. This pool surround features Kemiko ‘Cola’ stain, a deep earth-tone that balances the lighter coping and stonework.

This pool was originally a concrete pool, however due to extensive leaking, a vinyl liner was placed in the pool. In order for this to work, plumbing lines were re run, skimmers were re installed, and finally a new coping was poured. While all of this work eliminated the leaking of the pool, it left for a very unattractive pool deck.The new homeowners were looking to improve their pool area in several key areas. The original concrete had extensive cracking and poor drainage. There was also an area where natural stone was placed which had begun to delaminate as well as become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Resurfacing the existing concrete rather than demolishing and repouring became a very cost effective option.First, coping was formed and poured in place over the existing coping at a height that would correct the problems with drainage. A mix with integral color and pva fibers was used for the coping. Once the coping phase was complete, structural slabs were poured over the existing stone and concrete. This structural slab is reinforced with 2 1/4" structural polypropelene fibers, wire mesh, and in certain areas steel rods. There were also a few areas of grass that the homeowner wanted removed and replaced with our product. Those areas also received the structural slab and were tied into the existing concrete.Once the structural slab was poured and the new heights were established, the process of pouring decorative cast in place concrete tile began. This mix is designed to be poured at a thickness of 1 1/4" and is integrally colored and reinforced with pva fibers. A random ashlar pattern which is imprinted into the surface using custom "cookie cutter" style stamping tools. These tools leave an impression that is a 1/2" wide by an 1 1/4" deep, which is then grouted with any color that the customer chooses. In this case the customer chose to use an uncolored grout that would match an existing bluestone sidewalk and patio. All work was completed in a span of 2 weeks and completely changed the look of their pool deck.

This pool deck at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. recently got a makeover. First, four or five layers of coatings from the past twenty years were ground off. Then cracks in the original concrete were addressed by incorporating them into the stone pattern. Tape was used to seal off the outline of the stones before applying a Pure Texture coating. Next accent powders were applied with a sponge to get colors that look natural. As the final step, the deck was sealed with two coats of sealer containing a nonskid additive.

This project involved a 30+ year old pool that had old, dated wide white metal coping as well as large areas of concrete that had cracked and settled over the years. The homeowners were looking to update their pool area in a cost effective way with a product that was both decorative and durable. These areas were deemed structurally sound enough to support the additional weight of heavily reinforced, integrally colored cast-in-place concrete tiles. After determining that the existing metal coping and pool shoulder could support the addition of concrete coping, the skimmers, ladders, and grab rails were raised to a height that corresponded with the new surface plane. This was based on ¼” pitch generating from the new coping height. The relationship with the water surface was changed by only 1 ½”. Then a heavily reinforced structural slab was poured and finished with the integrally colored cast-in-place concrete tile. On this project the customer chose to have coping be a different color than the pool deck. The surface was textured with a knockdown finish which created peaks and valleys to minimize heat transmission on hot days and provide slip resistance. The entire surface was rubbed with a grindstone to eliminate any sharp edges that would be uncomfortable for barefoot traffic. All of the impressions that defined the pattern were grouted to create a unique custom masonry product that is easy to maintain. This method of resurfacing is very forgiving to the surrounding landscaped areas and is cost effective by eliminating the conventional idea of demolishing and removing the failed concrete and re-pouring new.Additionally, the original plumbing lines were replaced and run around the perimeter of the concrete to the pool equipment. The vertical aspect of the metal coping was also painted to minimize the visual impact.The structural slab was reinforced with a combination of steel and 2 ¼” structural synthetic fibers. The integrally colored cast-in-place concrete tile was reinforced with PVA structural synthetic fibers. An internal water repellent was added to the mix to further strengthen this product and help it resist the destructive forces of water in a freeze-thaw climate.Additional notes: This resurfacing process and a new construction process have the same finished look. The difference comes in the additional reinforcement required in the structural slab for resurfacing applications. This process utilizes the old “cookie cutter” style of stamping tools, which creates individual units that not only have a more realistic look than stamped concrete finished with mats, but also essentially create a geometrically crack control system. It is similar to the look of a traditional concrete paver wet laid over a structural slab, only difference being it is guaranteed to never delaminate.

Kemiko Cola stained pool deck. The pool installers did not offer the homeowner the option of decorative concrete for their deck. Creative Concrete Solutions was hired to do a straight stain. Stamping the deck after it had been poured would have been too costly, but the homeowner still wanted to enhance the deck. Staining it provided a cost-effective way to add color and beauty to the pool deck.

This residential project was installed in 2013 in Sonoma, CA - Total area appx 500 sq ft. The concrete pool deck was pressure washed and a water based stain Ameripolish Color Juice was applied in light layers to create a gentle marbling. The stain was sealed with Ameripolish acrylic clear sealer.

This job was a renovation to an old gunite pool. The pool had brick coping with a brick paver pool deck in a sand base. The homeowner wanted a product that would not show the failure signs of the pavers, but would still be decorative. After the plumbing lines for the pool were replaced, we came in to remove all of the remaining pavers and the sand base to achieve the appropriate grade. Once the grade work was complete and our reinforcement was in place, we poured our structural slap from a redi-mix truck at a thickness of 4". Our next step was working on the coping, which was poured in place. Once all coping work was complete, we began our work on the pool deck. Our process creates a cast-in-place concrete tile that is mixed on site, integrally colored, fiber reinforced, and grouted. The homeowner chose to stay in the brown earth tone family for both coping and the pool deck. Once the concrete tile was poured, formed, and treated with a cure and seal, we could begin the grouting process. All of the grout is placed using a traditional masonry grout bag and is then tooled with slickers. A final coat of clear sealer over the entire job offers a satin sheen. All work is guaranteed not to delaminate. Also there are no visible saw cuts that interrupt the integrity of the pattern.

Winner of a 2012 ASCC Decorative Concrete Council Award - WOW! Award (best overall project).
Winner of a 2012 ASCC Decorative Concrete Council Award - First Place Certificate for Cast-in-Place, Special Finishes, Over 5000 SF.
This project took over 150 yards of concrete and over 200 yards of dirt were hauled away. Retaining the hillside was the biggest task. The retaining walls, seat walls and stair walls were all colored with an Alcantar Nutmeg Color hardener and were hard troweled for a mottled variegated look. The stair landings, pool deck and walkways were colored with Matcrete’s Phoenix Tan and textured with a Light Italian Slate Texture. A clear release agent was used. For the wall caps, stairs and pool coping Matcrete’s Limestone color hardener was applied. The stairs received a sand washed finish, while the wall caps were hard troweled.

Residential pool deck incorporating three looks to create a unified design. The first look is a stamped border. The second look is heavy sand blasted bands that intersect the deck. The third look is basic concrete with light sand blasting.

Winner of a 2012 ASCC Decorative Concrete Council Award - First Place Certificate for Cast-in-Place, Special Finishes, Under 5000 SF.
For this project, the architecture of the home is modern and it is located on about 5 acres of wooded property. The look called for a blend of modern and rustic. The entire pool area concrete, walls and steps completely satisfy the desired look and feel for the client. A buff colored integral pigment was used with an off white color hardener to create a mottled finish. The texture was created using various sized rock salt up to 3/8” in size. The finished surface closely resembles travertine. For the cantilevered steps pre-cast treads were set in place with an excavator. Then the risers were poured in place.

2009 Award for Residential Architectural Hardscape – Progressive Concrete Works Inc. installed the pool and patio areas of a local Arizona residence mirroring the beauty found in the natural Arizona landscape. The project is noted for the red and brown hues and natural textures.

In Redlands, Calif., this pool deck, patio and sidewalk had originally been painted and needed three coats of thick paint removed from the surface. Using Franmar Soy Gel, Staintec owner, Glen Roman, put down the gel, covered the area in plastic overnight, and then hot pressure washed the paint off the surface. Using a self-sealing, water-based stain, he colored the sidewalk, pool, and patio in Newlook’s Summer Sand color. He antiqued the patio and sidewalk with a darker color of maple for contrast. Concrete Coatings Super Seal 20WB was used on the patio and sidewalk to protect the antiquing which could be affected by the pool water. The project was 1,100 square feet. Using Newlook products gave the project a great look, and made it cost-effective.Average cost: $3 square foot

For this model home, the local builder wanted a pool and concrete pool deck installed. Designed by Michael Dick, owner of Rock Solid Custom Concrete, the fiberglass pool is surrounded by integrally colored stamped concrete in a 2’ x 2’ tile pattern. “Because stamped concrete tends to look fake when it abuts against the edge of a pool, we poured the 16” coping border,” says Michael. The border was integrally colored with Roman Clay from Scofield. “We wanted some texture on it without the traditional broom finish look,” he says, “so we gave it a sponge-finish with a swirl pattern.” Concrete was then poured up to the coping with Coronado Buff integral color with a Terra Cotta release. The deck was sealed with a Brickform sealer thinned with xylene providing a low sheen, matte finish. The project was 600 sq ft plus 200 sq ft on the patio.Average cost: $8-9 square foot

This large residential project included patios, a pool deck, walkways and a driveway. LITHOCHROME® Color Hardener in Beige Cream was used for the primary color. The concrete was stamped with various patterns of LITHOTEX® Pavecrafters®, and then LITHOTEX® Antiquing Release in Smoke Beige and Arizona Tan was used to bring depth and highlights to the textured concrete.

This project consisted of poured-in-place monument/wall caps, pool/spa coping, barbeque countertops, hearth, mantle, fireplace top and wood storage tops, all colored with CHROMIX® Admixtures for Color-Conditioned® Concrete. A different color of CHROMIX Admixtures was used for the main pool/spa decks and the patio area. All were sealed with CEMENTONE® Clear Sealer. The monument/wall caps, pool/spa coping, main pool/spa decks and patio areas were sand washed finishes. The barbeque countertops, hearth, mantle, fireplace top and wood storage tops were hard trowelled finished. All control joints and decorative joints were saw-cut.

This striking pool deck was fashioned using Spraycrete’s trowelled on texture. The brick border was also added with this process. The colors used on the deck were a custom mix of adobe, gold, and terra cota which was hand stained to match the house.

Brien at PCM Group recently submitted this community pool deck he completed in Indiana.The pool coping and the ribbons are colored and textured with an Italian slate texture skin while the inset fields are integrally colored concrete exposed with Grace's 05 Topcast product.

The unique texture on this pool deck at a residence in Mason, OH was created through slate textured stamps. The colors used were Adobe buff hardener and Terra cotta release. The cantilever coping was also textured and colored to match the decking.

This ICF home in Tennessee, the winner of a 2004 Concrete Excellence Award, used EnergyWise's systems approach to achieving maximum heating and cooling efficiency. Although the home is a massive 13,524 square feet, electricity costs run about $5.50 per day or $166 per month. Read More About Concrete Homes